Anand Mahindra becomes executive chairman, M&M; goenka becomes MD

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M) has designated its chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra as executive chairman of the company, while elevating Pawan Goenka as managing director.

Goenka will continue to report to Anand Mahindra and the company's board, M&M said in a statement.

This is in line with the practice followed by companies across the Mahindra Group, where the position of managing director or CEO is distinct from that of the chairman.

Mahindra, as the executive chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra, will continue to oversee, and be responsible for shaping, the growth strategies of the company and its portfolio of investments.

The organisation structures and processes in M&M and in the Group Corporate Office have already been aligned with this change over the past one year and there will be no change in the reporting relationships of the Group Presidents and Presidents who head the other Sectors and Functions of the Group.

''Pawan has played a major role in M&M's meteoric growth in the post liberalisation era. His elevation as MD is a fitting recognition not only of his vast experience and domain knowledge in the mobility space and his many past achievements, but also of the eminent role that he currently plays in the Company,'' Mahindra said.

''When I joined the Group 23 years ago, I could never have imagined that one day I would be entrusted with this responsibility by the Board of the Company. I am sure that with the guidance of the Executive Chairman and the Board, and the support of my colleagues, this Company will continue on the growth path that we have witnessed over the last decade and a half,'' said Goenka.

Goenka joined M&M as general manager R&D in 1993, after working with General Motors Corp. in Detroit,  for 14 years. He became president of the Automotive Sector in 2005, of AFS (Automotive and Farm Equipment Sectors) in 2010 and was appointed executive director on the board of M&M in 2013.

Goenka has been actively involved with many professional bodies such as CII, SIAM, SAE, ARAI and has been widely acclaimed for his technical work and business leadership.  Currently he also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT Madras.